The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-21
The CITY'S SEWERS.
Promoters OF Health and Safeguards
Against Disease.
Services for which . Small Glass
Cismors OF Fraud and wrong
Doing Among the Onlcials.

"In the face Of we'll known facts"
said q leader Of the business interests
Of Memphis to an ArrRAL man, yes
terday, 81 cannot understand how our
people swallow all this talk OF the
combine about technical iiregulari-
ties by the Taxing District officials.
without understanding the real mer-
It's Of the case, I was disposed to fall
into tho ides, but never for mo-
ment suspected moral guilt. Since
tho first indictments were qunshed,
and the leaders OF the movement
against the city government have
again begun to chow their hands, 1t
aas Get me to thinking and investigat-
ing"
"Are you still convinced that the
movement is founded upon a motive
which requires research and study to
ferret outW
"More than ever. There is some.
thing behind II that the great mass OF
people should understand thoroughly,
and they must do 1t, else they will
awake some fine morning and find an
unscrupulous combine rolling honest
and capable government In the dust "
"Perhaps you will aid the good
cause by making known the important
facts brought to your attention ?"
81 have not finished yet, but will
tell you one fact connected with the
20. called overcheck OF 3ll9,600.
| There has been no sewer levy made
since 1880. Notwithstanding this, the
authorities have expended $t0,030 32
on that particular service, Of this
amount $lS.738 81 went to the Monroe
street relief sewer, completed last
December. Now, how has this been
lrrspgedi Since the 1880 levy sewers
have been q collate al part Of the
street fund, the came rs
bridges, etc. An additional
large sum has gone to the health de-
partment for sanitary purposes, In.
cluding the garbage system. These
are only two citations, but enough to
convince me that the plea OF the oppo-
sition 10 far fetched and questionable.
What would have become OF the city
had not theee important factors OF safe.
~ and progress been brought out2 /
shudder to contemplate. How would
the officials stand before the communi.
~ and civilized world today, had
they folded their hands, allowed
the surplus TO lay idle and permitted
the city 10 drift along, taking chances
against every form Of disssse9 learn
that DR.. Thornton, president OF
the Board OF Health, warned the gu.
tho.ilies that all this work was abso
lutely necessary 10 insure health
and security against disease aud death
and unless IL was done he would
not be responsible to the country
for conse quences. After the last two
years Of unprecedented msiort ine
Memphis gave 10 the world pledg,
that she would go improve her SAM
tary condition that recurrence would
be among the most remote poseibili
ties. This contemplated q thorough
system Of sewerage. without II, W,
would now be among the virtual,
dead municipalities, with no hope o
redemption. Instead Of prosperity,
, constant decline In property value
and volume Of business would b
. the rule. Only the most dafipg an,
reckless men would invest their cap
tai In loci enterprises, and they In
spirit OF hoping almost against hope
Look at II In this, which Is the conec
light, and II settles down 10 this
Since the Taxing District form OF gov
ernment was established the policy ha
been to improve and build no the city
Fortunately, we have had men |,
Office thoroughly imbued with thi
spirit, and yet exercising due regsr
for the laws requirements. Ga thi
line the work mas been pushed FOL
ward. Not one cent was expende
amiss, and yet q Get tain class clamc
for the downfall and Imprisonment {
those who have rescued the city
Truly, II Is unacooun,able, save /
those who are familiar with the mt
, liyea"